Weeds in Winter/Praying Mantis Ootheca

It’s easy to admire and appreciate the beauty of spring and summer, when the flowers are in bloom and the world is full of color. Even though things can seem grey and bleak in the winter, when we look closely, there is beauty to be found, even in the dead stalks of plants. The book Weeds in Winter (by local author Lauren Brown) is a great resource for observing and identifying winter plant skeletons and a yearly inspiration when we get the winter blues.

The understated beauty of plants in winter often requires that we take a closer look. This is a great time of year to observe with increased attention, as the forest is quieter and less busy. If the grey days of winter get you down, take some time to appreciate the stillness.

As you look, keep your eyes peeled for brownish masses that look a bit like toasted marshmallows. These are the egg cases (or ootheca) of praying mantises. In the fall, female praying mantises lay their eggs in a foam that hardens, creating small ribbed ovals that protect their eggs over the winter. In the spring, the young hatch and spread out into the world. We have lots of praying mantis ootheca in a spot by our parking lot here at Common Ground. Gardener Tim always collects a few each year and carefully mounts them in the farm and upper garden, so we’ll have plenty of mantises to help with pest control in the gardens.

A local New Haven school has been holding outdoor classes, even when most schools in the area were operating fully remotely. Read the New Haven Independent article on Elm City Montessori School's outdoor program.